Scarlet Knights sweeps Point Pleasant, 56-53

Point Pleasant junior Parker Rairden, left, dribbles past a Winfield defender during a December 17, 2015, boys basketball contest in Point Pleasant, W.Va.

Bryan Walters/OVP Sports

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Oh so close.

The Point Pleasant boys basketball team came within one possession of snapping a 12-game losing skid, but visiting Cabell Midland spoiled Senior Night festivities Saturday with a 56-53 decision in a non-conference matchup in Mason County.

The Big Blacks (2-17) honored six seniors — Jason Sayre, Trenton Tucker, Trey Tucker, Bradley Gibbs and Brandon Henderson — before the game, then the hosts used that emotion in establishing a 16-7 advantage after eight minutes of play.

The Scarlet Knights (2-17), however, started their comeback charge in the second canto after using a 19-14 surge to close to within 30-26 at the break. Doug Workman chipped in eight of Point Pleasant’s nine points in the third stanza, but CMHS still made a 13-9 run and managed to tie the contest at 39-all headed into the finale.

PPHS received 11 points from Cason Payne down the stretch, but the hosts made only four field goals as Cabell Midland ended regulation on a 17-14 run to wrap up the three-point outcome.

The Scarlet Knights — who snapped a 15-game losing skid — claimed a season sweep of the Big Blacks after posting a 69-63 win at CMHS back on December 12. Point Pleasant has now dropped 13 straight outcomes overall.

PPHS made eight of its 18 field goals from behind the arc and also went 9-of-19 at the free throw line for 47 percent. Cabell Midland, conversely, made four of its 23 field goals from three-point range and also went 6-of-11 at the charity stripe for 55 percent.

Workman was held scoreless in the fourth period, but still led the hosts with a game-high 15 points. Payne and Gibbs were next with 13 points apiece and Parker Rairden added five markers. Trey Tucker and Henderson rounded out the respective tally with four and three markers.

Jovaun Light paced CMHS with 13 points, followed by Trey Chapman with 11 points and Hayden Cooper with eight markers. Tanner Brandon, Madison Jeffrey and Perry Gibson each contributed five points to the winning cause, while Alex Ray and Jacob Gooderham respectively rounded things out with four and three markers.

Point Pleasant returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Shady Spring in a non-conference matchup at 6 p.m.

NOTES: Point Pleasant senior and Marshall University signee Cody Mitchell was presented with the 2015 MetroNews High School Football Player of the Year trophy before the game.

Bryan Walters can be reached at 740-446-2342, ext. 2101.

Point Pleasant junior Parker Rairden, left, dribbles past a Winfield defender during a December 17, 2015, boys basketball contest in Point Pleasant, W.Va.